Hyderabad, Jan.25 (RAHNUMA): In line with this approach, the Hyderabad SHE Teams have resolved 1,149 complaints over the past one year. Using a combination of undercover surveillance, decoy operations and technical expertise, the specialised wing of the city police apprehended 3,826 individuals caught red-handed for various forms of harassment in 2025.
The interventions of the SHE Teams have provided timely relief to the women in distress. In one case, a young woman, who had shared personal photographs with a friend was later blackmailed for money. Caught between fear of social stigma and repeated threats, she approached the SHE Teams, leading to immediate intervention. In another instance, a working professional, who continued to face stalking and threats despite blocking the accused , was provided protection and legal support.
One survivor, a 22-year-old who was targeted after a fallout with a terminal acquaintance, recounted her ordeal. “I was living in a constant state of terror, paralyzed by the fear that a single click of a button by my harasser would destroy my reputation and my family’s honor,” she said.
Noting that she felt suffocated and saw no way out until she reached out to the SHE Teams, she Sai’s that the police did not just apprehend the culprit; they handled her case with such sensitivity and confidentiality that she finally felt her dignity was restored.
A working professional, who was stalked for months by a man threatening violence if she did not reciprocate to his feelings, shared the psychological toll of the harassment with the SHE team members . “What began as unwanted attention soon escalated into a daily nightmare of stalking and death threats. My workplace, which used to be my safe space, felt like a trap because I was being shadowed every single day,” she remarked. She noted that the SHE Teams stepped in like a protective shield, transforming her from a helpless target into a confident woman, who no longer looked over her shoulder in fear.
Menace of digital blackmailing
An analysis of cases registered during the year pointed to a worrying rise in the cyber-related offences. Blackmail emerged as the most common complaint, with 366 victims seeking assistance. The Offenders typically befriended the women on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, gained their trust and later misused recorded video calls or private photographs to extort money or sexual favours. In several cases, the former partners of the victims used old images to threaten them, often attempting to disrupt their future marriages or personal lives.
Technological harassment and fraud
The Police also observed a rise in what they termed “psychological voyeurism,” where offenders exploit the anonymity of digital platforms to harass the women. The SHE Teams resolved 121 cases of midnight harassment through internet calls and 82 cases involving fake profiles and circulation of obscene content on WhatsApp. At least 50 women reported severe mental distress due to repeated abusive calls from untraceable numbers, which were later identified by using forensic analysis.
The teams further handled 98 cases of breach of promise to marry, where men allegedly exploited the women emotionally, physically and financially under the pretext of marriage before abandoning them. Psychological counselling was provided to the victims, and criminal proceedings were initiated against the accused.
Robust field surveillance
Apart from complaint-based action, the SHE Teams maintained a strong preventive presence on the ground. Fifteen teams operating in plain clothes conducted surveillance and decoy operations at bus stations, colleges and other crowded public places. Of the 3,826 individuals apprehended, most were counselled along with their family members, while serious cases led to FIRs, arrests and judicial custody.
The Hyderabad Police have urged citizens to report any form of harassment by dialing 100 or contacting the SHE Teams via WhatsApp at 949061655.
